Aryl-imidazolines and aryl-imidazoles useful as α-2 adrenergic agonists without cardiovascular side effects

ABSTRACT

Methods are disclosed for treating a mammal with a condition that responds to α2 agonist treatment without causing cardiovascular side effects using compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein R 1  is H, alkyl or 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a halogen atom, X is O or NH and A is H or an oxo group and wherein said compound does not cause a concomitant reduction in blood pressure of said mammal.

This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 08/647,130 filed May 9, 1996, abnd., which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 08/440,030 filed May 12, 1995, abnd.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to meta-substituted aryl linked imidazolines and imidazoles. More particularly, the invention relates to such compounds which have α₂ adrenergic agonist activity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Aryl-2-amino-imidazolines are well-known in the art. Compounds such as moxonidine, para-aminoclonidine, brimonidine and tramazoline are but a few of the compounds which contain this basic structural feature that have also found use as therapeutic agents. For a review of structure activity relationships of this type of compound in relation to adrenergic receptors see R. Ruffolo, Jr. (ed.) in α-Adrenoreceptors: Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Prog. Basic Clin. Pharmacol. (Basel, Karger), 8 pp. 75-114 (1991). ##STR2##

A compound of similar structure is moxonidine. However, moxonidine has been identified pharmacologically as a selective imidazoline receptor agonist, with utility as a centrally-acting antihypertensive agent. The pharmacological investigation of imidazoline agents independent of adrenoceptors started in the mid-1980's. Two major subtypes, tentatively designated I₁ and I₂, are recognized. I₁ sites are labeled with nanomolar affinity by clonidine analogs whereas I₂ sites have micromolar affinity for clonidine and are usually labeled by tritiated idazoxan. The `I` designation (for imidazoline) has been intended to encompass not only imidazolines, imidazoles, and imidazolidines, but also such related structures as guanidines and oxazolines, all of which are potential ligands at these sites. A recent review of imidazoline-preferring receptors has been published by M. C. Michel and P. Ernsberger in TiPS, 13, pp. 369-379 (Oct. 1992). ##STR3##

Studies to identify the mechanism of the selective antihypertensive action of moxonidine have shown that the effect is mediated mainly by 1₁ -imidazoline receptors in the rostral ventrolateral medulla. [Haxhiu, M. A. et al, J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. 24 (suppl.1) pp. S1-S8 (1994)]. Similar studies of related compounds have identified rilmenidine as a hypotensive drug that is more selective for imidazoline receptors than for classical α₂ adrenoceptors [Bousquet, P., et al., Am. J. Hypertens. 5 pp 47S-50S, 1992]. The rilmenidine structure substitutes an oxazolidine ring for imidazoline. Such heterocyclic ring substitutions are noted in the Ruffolo monograph on page 99 to reduce or abolish activity at α₂ receptors. A study published by Harron, D. W. (Am. J. Hypertens., 5(4, Pt. 2) pp. 91S-98S (April 1992) reported that in experimental studies, "rilmenidine differs from clonidine in that it is more selective for imidazoline receptors than for α₂ -adrenoceptors; at equihypotensive doses, rilmenidine causes less bradycardia and reduction in cardiac output, less sedation, and little or no antinociceptive action compared to clonidine". ##STR4##

A few aryl-2-amino-imidazole derivatives are known in the pharmaceutical arts: Jen, et al in J. Med. Chem., 18(1). 90-99 (1975) made and tested a clonidine analog, among a few other related structures for antihypertensive and gastric antisecretory activity. U.S. Pat. No. 3,459,763 (to Gruenfeld) which discloses a variety of substituted imidazole compounds, the two classes of compounds disclosed are regioisomers of the general structures: phenyl-2-amino-imidazole and N-1-phenyl-2-amino-imidazole. These structures were disclosed as having cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory activities.

In addition, several drugs are known which substitute a methylene group for the bridging amino group in the imidazoline series, compounds such as oxymetazoline, naphazoline and tolazoline are examples. The Ruffolo review indicates at page 95 that "replacement of the nitrogen bridge of clonidine with a methylene bridge has little effect on α₂ adrenoceptor activity . . . " and elsewhere on p. 95 that the "replacement of the nitrogen atom in clonidine-like imidazolines with either carbon or sulfur produces only a small reduction in α₂ adrenoceptor activity".

The background of the division of adrenergic receptor system into differing categories and subtypes can be briefly described as follows. Historically, adrenoceptors were first divided in α and β types by Ahlquist in 1948. This division was based on pharmacological characteristics. Later, β-adrenoceptors were subdivided into β₁ and β₂ subtypes, again based on a pharmacological definition by comparison of the relative potencies of 12 agonists. The α-adrenoceptors were also subdivided into α₁ and α₂ subtypes, initially based on a presumed localization of α₁ receptors postsynaptically and α₂ presynaptically. Now, however, this physiologic division is no longer used and it is generally accepted that the most useful way to subdivide the α-adrenoceptors is based on pharmacology using affinities for the antagonists yohimbine and prazosin. At α₁ receptors, prazosin is more potent that yohimbine, whereas the α₂ receptors, yohimbine is more potent than prazosin. Bylund, et al. first suggested in 1981 that there possibly existed subtypes of the α₂ -adrenoceptors on the basis of radioligand binding studies. This initial work was done with various tissues taken from various species. While receptor heterogeneity among species is considered to be important, the term `subtype` is usually reserved by pharmacologists for heterogeneity which can be demonstrated within the same species and ideally within a single tissue. Bylund and coworkers have later demonstrated that some regions of the human and rat brain contain two populations of α₂ -adrenoceptors sites which differ in their affinity for prazosin by 30- to 40-fold.

This finding supports the division of the α₂ receptor into A and B subtypes. More recently there have been reports of a third alpha subtype receptor called 2C.

Some examples of alpha₂ (α₂) adrenergic receptor agonists well known in the art are: ##STR5##

Clonidine is clinically useful as a hypotensive agent, and has been studied as a nasal decongestant and as an ocular hypotensive agent and as an anesthetic adjunct. The mechanism of action of clonidine has been described as a centrally acting α₂ adrenergic partial agonist, however, clonidine also has hypotensive cardiovascular effects. It was reported that clonidine binds to both α₂ and imidazoline receptors and that the binding to the imidazoline receptors mediates the blood pressure lowering side effects of clonidine. [See e.g. Codd, E. E., et al. Life Sci., 56 (2) p. 63-74 (Dec. 2, 1994) and Ernsberger, P., et al., Cardiovasc. Drugs Ther., 8 (Suppl. 1) pp. 27-41 (March 1994)] Brimonodine (UK 14,304) is a newer α₂ adrenergic agent which possesses superior therapeutic action as an ocular hypotensive, and has been tested in other α2 agonist responsive conditions. Brimonidine, as is shown by the data in table I at Example 4 also shows significant imidazoline receptor binding affinity. Other activities inferred by I-receptor studies are stimulation of insulin release from pancreatic β-cells via coupling to ATP-sensitive K+ channels and inhibition of sodium reabsorption in the tubules of the kidneys. It has now been suggested by the present inventors that the imidazoline receptor is a nonfunctional binding site. [See Munk, S. A., et al, J. Med. Chem. 39 (6) 1193-1195(1996).]

A few compounds which have been reported to be a2A selective are dexmedetomidine and oxymetazoline. ##STR6##

The identification of subtypes of the α₂ receptor has progressed faster than complete pharmacological and physiological characterization of them. Nevertheless, α_(2A) receptors have been identified in the ciliary body of the eye, and so are postulated to have a controlling mechanism in ocular hypertension and symptomatology of glaucoma (see Sin, Y. et al., J. Ocul. Pharmacol. 10(1) pp. 359-69 (1994). Alpha _(2A) receptors have also been studied in pain perception, or alternatively, pain alleviation (see Millan, M. J., Eur. J. Pharmacol., 215(2-3) pp. 355-6 (1992).

A selective or subtype selective agonist as the term is used in this invention indicates a compound that binds to, and activates, a specific receptor subtype in preference to other receptors of related but different subtype(s). For example, a compound that binds to and activates the α_(2A) subtype receptor in preference to the α_(2B) or α_(2C) subtype receptors is an α_(2A) selective agonist. Activation means that the receptor is induced to initiate a biochemical event that is controlled or operated by that particular receptor. Activation can further be thought of in terms of a signal transduction process which mediates the signal triggered by receptor activation to intracellular effector structures.

From this summary of the state of the art it is apparent that compounds which are selective α₂ agonists possess valuable therapeutic utility for treating glaucoma and pain, and for producing sedation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention covers methods of using compounds of formula I selective agonism of α₂ adrenoceptors ##STR7## wherein Q is NH or CH₂, a broken line parallel to and adjacent a solid line indicates a single or a double bond, each R₁ is independently H, alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a halogen atom, each R₂ is independently H or an atom or functional group chosen from the group consisting of --N(R₄)₃, --OR₄, F, Cl, Br and --SR₄, and wherein each R₄ is independently chosen from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms and alkylcarbonyl of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and R₃ is independently chosen from the group of values for R₁ and R₂, or R₂ and R₃ together can form a 5 or 6 membered ring, which can optionally bear methyl, ethyl or oxo substituents, fused to the aryl ring, provided that in either case at least one R₂ is --N(R₄)₃, --OR₄, F, Cl, Br, or --SR, and that the heteroatom bonds directly to the aryl ring.

Preferably the present invention provides a method of treating elevated intraocular pressure, nasal congestion or diarrhea in a mammal comprising administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the formula II ##STR8## wherein R₁ is H, alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a halogen atom, X is O or NH and A is H or an oxo group and wherein said compound does not cause a concomitant reduction in blood pressure of said mammal.

More preferably in the method of the present invention the compound of formula II has the structure ##STR9## wherein R₁ represents methyl or bromine and A is hydrogen or an oxo group.

Most preferably in the method of the present invention the compound of formula II has the structure ##STR10##

Pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of formula I are also within the scope of the present invention. Pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts of the compounds of the invention are those formed from acids which form non-toxic addition salts containing pharmaceutically acceptable anions, such as the hydrochloride, hydrobromide, hydroiodide, sulfate, bisulfate, phosphate or acid phosphate, acetate, maleate, fumarate, oxalate, lactate, tartrate, citrate, gluconate, saccharate, or p-toluenesulfonate salts. A pharmaceutically acceptable salt may be any salt which retains the activity of the parent compound and does not impart any deleterious or untoward effect on the subject to which it is administered and in the context in which it is administered.

Organic amine salts may be made with amines, particularly ammonium salts such as mono-, di- and trialkyl amines or ethanol amines. Salts may also be formed with caffeine, tromethamine, and similar molecules. Where there is a nitrogen sufficiently basic as to be capable of forming acid addition salts such may be formed with any inorganic car organic acids or alkylating agent such as methyl iodide. Any of a number of simple organic acids such as mono-, di-, or tri-acid may also be used. A pharmaceutically acceptable salt may be prepared for any compound of the invention having a functionality capable of forming such a salt, e.g., an acid salt of an amine group.

General Embodiments

Definitions

The terms "ester" and "amide" as used here refer to and cover any compound falling within the definition of those terms as classically used in organic chemistry.

Some compounds of the present invention contain the (2-imidazolyl) amino structure which is represented as: ##STR11##

This group attaches via the exocyclic nitrogen to the aryl ring. Other compounds or the present invention have the (2-imidazolinyl) amino group represented in structure by: ##STR12##

These compounds exist as tautomers (formally equivalent isomers capable of interchanging double bond positions and a proton between the heteroatoms) wherein the double bond can shift from one nitrogen to another either within or without the ring but always terminating at the 2-carbon of the ring. The chemical nomenclature of these compounds is: ² -amino-imidazolines for the forms where the double bond is positioned within the ring and 2-imino-imidazolidines when the double bond is positioned outside the ring. No tautomeric form of these compounds places a double bond at the 4-5 position of the imidazole ring.

A further group of the present invention involves compounds which have in imidazoline ring but not an exocyclic amino group, but rather a methylene group in its place. Compounds of this type can tautomerize to give different double bond position within the ring only as shown below. ##STR13##

Hydrogen-bond acceptors are well-defined in the art [see for example, Wilson and Gisvold's Textbook of Organic Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry., R. F. Doerge (ed.) J. B. Lipincott Co. 1982 HP 41-43 or Physical Organic Chemistry, N. S. Isaacs Universities Press (Belfast) Ltd., 1987 pp. 62-67]. A hydrogen bond is a bond in which a hydrogen atom serves to hold two other atoms together. These "other atoms" must themselves be capable of forming hydrogen bonds. Atoms with hydrogen bond forming capability have at least one unshared electron pair together with a complete octet of electrons. A list of atoms contemplated by the invention includes: F, O, N, Cl, Br and S. The H-bond consists of an attractive force which exists between a hydrogen atom covalently bound to an atom from the list given above (e.g. a hydroxy group, --O--H) and a second atom, not necessarily the same, from the list. The lone pair atom which has the covalent bond to hydrogen is; called the hydrogen bond donor. The other atom which hydrogen bonds with this donated hydrogen is called the hydrogen bond acceptor.

Some groups such as hydroxy or primary or secondary amine can act as both hydrogen bond donors and hydrogen bond acceptors. Groups such as ethers or tertiary amines are hydrogen bond acceptors only. The valence of quaternary amines which have no free lone pair are incapable of being hydrogen bond acceptors. Hydrogen bond acceptor groups specifically contemplated by the present invention are primary, secondary, and tertiary amines, hydroxyl and ethers functions, amides and esters, fluoro, chloro and bromo groups and thiols and thioethers.

The term "alkyl" as used here refers to and includes normal and branch chained alkyl groups. The term "lower alkyl", unless specifically stated otherwise, includes normal alkyl of 1 to 4 carbons, branch chained alkyl of 3 or 4 carbons. Similarly, the terms "alkenyl" and "alkynyl" include normal and branch chained groups having 2 to 4 carbons when the chains are normal, and 3 or 4 carbons when the chains are branched.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. I compares the effect of clonidine and a representative compound of this invention for lowering intraocular pressure (IOP).

FIG. II compares the effect of clonidine and a representative compound of this invention for lowering blood pressure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The compounds of Formula I as described above including all stereoisomers, tautomers as previously defined and mixtures thereof which comply with the constraints of the present compounds are included within the scope of the present invention.

The present compounds may be prepared in a manner analogous to the procedures in: Commonly assigned PCT application 95/US/01150 filed on Jan. 25, 1995 by Munk, et al. discloses certain phenyl-2-amino-imidazoles which have subtype selected α_(2A) activity and methods for making them. The contents of this PCT application are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,528 by Gluchowski and commonly assigned with the present application discloses methods of making (2-amino-imidazolinyl)-benzoxazine compounds encompassed by the methods of the present invention. The content of U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,528 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,322 by Gluchowski and also commonly assigned discloses methods of making (2-amino-imidazolinyl)-tetrahydroquinoxaline compounds and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Other compounds, such as oxymetazoline, are well-known compounds in the art and are commercially available.

The present meta-substituted aryl linked imidazolines and imidazoles are useful to provide one or more desired therapeutic effects in a mammal. Among the desired therapeutic effects are an alteration, preferably a decrease in the rate of fluid transport in the gastrointestinal tract of a mammal, a reduction in or maintenance of the intraocular pressure in at least one eye of a mammal; and an increase in the renal fluid flow in at least one kidney of a mammal, or a decrease in nasal. congestion in the air passages of a mammal. Thus, for example, the present compounds may be used as a anti-diarrhea agent, a medication for use in the treatment or management of glaucoma, a medication for use in the treatment or management of kidney disease and/or a treatment for congested nasal passages. One important feature of many of the present compounds is that the desired therapeutic effect is achieved with reduced or absent side effects, in particular, lacking effects on the blood pressure or the mammal to which the present compound or compounds is/are administered.

Preferred compounds of the invention with reference to the Examples 1-24 in Table 1 are those compounds which show high affinity for α₂ receptors (low Ki values) in the binding assays. Particularly preferred are those compounds in which the Ki (binding affinity) value for the α₂ receptors is from 0.0001 to 10. With respect to the structural features which are preferred in the present invention, the elements which are preferred in providing the desired binding respect to the structural features which are preferred in the present invention, the elements which are preferred in providing the desired binding characteristics are the presence of a fused ring at R₂ and R₃, more preferably with a nitrogen atom bonding to the aryl ring at R₂ and even more preferably with a nitrogen atom bonding to the aryl ring at R₂, and even more preferably with a nitrogen or oxygen atom bonding to the aryl ring at R₃. Other preferred embodiments include compounds of formula 1 wherein both R₁ s are methyl, one R₂ is hydroxy or methoxy, the other R₂ is hydrogen, and R₃ is -butyl.

Any suitable method of administering the present compound or compounds to the mammal to be treated may be used. The particular method of administration chosen is preferably one which allows the present compound or compounds to have the desired therapeutic effect in an effective manner, e.g., low medication concentration and low incidence of side effects. In many applications, the present compound or compounds are administered to a mammal in a manner substantially similar to that used to administer α₂ agonists, to obtain the same or similar therapeutic effect.

The invention is further illustrated by the following non-limiting examples which are illustrative of specific modes of practicing the invention and are not intended as limiting the scope of the appended claims.

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________                     Kι                                                        Structure       α1                                                                           α.sub.2A                                                                     α.sub.2B                                                                     α.sub.2C                                                                     I.sub.1                                                                            I.sub.2A                                                                           I.sub.2B                               __________________________________________________________________________     Example 1       5,034                                                                              8.9 49  70  12  1,200                                       ##STR14##                                                                     Example 2       513 3.8 8.3 30  8.9 10,000                                                                             12,452                                  ##STR15##                                                                     Example 3       181 2.9 4.8 21  19  64,790                                                                             38,642                                  ##STR16##                                                                     Example 4       1,433                                                                              2   17  27  48  5,199                                                                              155                                     ##STR17##                                                                     Example 5       1,850                                                                              2.7 52  44  17  7,193                                                                              614                                     ##STR18##                                                                     Example 6       38,573                                                                             147 1,029                                                                              2,012                                                                              56  100,000                                                                            100,000                                 ##STR19##                                                                     Example 7       5,100                                                                              35  262 463 1,988                                                                              100,000                                                                            10,000                                  ##STR20##                                                                     Example 8       8,715                                                                              9.6 139 124 100,000                                                                            100,000                                                                            10,000                                  ##STR21##                                                                     Example 9       1,117                                                                              6.1 47  120 4,575                                                                              7,561                                                                              4,588                                   ##STR22##                                                                     Example 10      6,606                                                                              24  194 293 3,952                                                                              24,827                                                                             3,256                                   ##STR23##                                                                     Example 11      2,403                                                                              3.1 28  20  1,835                                                                              1,084                                                                              2,032                                   ##STR24##                                                                     Example 12      1,452                                                                              5.2 196 93  340 100,000                                                                            507                                     ##STR25##                                                                     Example 13      129 0.25                                                                               4   3.5 831 100,000                                                                            1,223                                   ##STR26##                                                                     Example 14      8.987                                                                              52  842     11,600                                                                             4,500                                                                              6,517                                   ##STR27##                                                                     Example 15      2,262                                                                              17  241 134 100,000                                         ##STR28##                                                                     Example 16      473 1.2 30  8.9 7,112                                                                              100,000                                                                            12,135                                  ##STR29##                                                                     Example 17      14,784                                                                             6.3 436 229 5,300                                                                              27,035                                                                             9,283                                   ##STR30##                                                                     Example 18      5,214                                                                              52  295 180 19  141 13                                      ##STR31##                                                                     Example 19      7,613                                                                              10  434 512 13  6,180                                                                              179                                     ##STR32##                                                                     Example 20      11,316                                                                             30  895 457 412                                             ##STR33##                                                                     Example 21      2,147                                                                              1.7 82  19  444 7,708                                                                              686                                     ##STR34##                                                                     Example 22      4.175                                                                              4.9 221 88  4,320                                                                              100,000                                                                            870                                     ##STR35##                                                                     Example 23      199 0.27                                                                               97  13  7,417                                                                              12,873                                                                             2,692                                   ##STR36##                                                                     Example 24      30,550                                                                             31  1,156                                                                              212 227 6,367                                                                              36                                      ##STR37##                                                                     __________________________________________________________________________

Experimental Assays: Binding Affinities and Receptor Activation

Receptor Binding Assays

EXAMPLE 25

Tissue preparation: Membrane suspensions were prepared from human cerebral cortex (HDD, for α1 receptors) obtained from the UCI Organ and Tissue Bank. Briefly, tissues (1 g) were homogenized in 25 mL of ice-cold 5 mM Tris, pH 7.4 with a Polytron homogenizer for 30 sec at setting #7, and centrifuged for

10-12 minutes at 300× g at 4° C. The supernatant was filtered through 2 layers of gauze and diluted 1:2 with 50 mM Tris-HCl buffer, pH 7.4, then centrifuged at 49,000× g for 20 minutes. The pellet fraction was washed 3 times (resuspended in Tris-HCl buffer and centrifuged for 20 minutes; at 49,000× g). The pellet was then stored at -80° C. until the binding assay.

Cell preparation: Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing the human α_(2A) and human α_(2C) (CHO-C10 and CHO-C4 respectively) receptors and CHO cells (CHO-RNG) expressing the rat α_(2B), adrenoceptor were grown to near confluence in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum using standard cell culture methods. Cells were harvested by scraping and placed into cold buffer of the following composition: 50 mM Tris-HCl, 5 mM EDTA, pH 7.4). Cells were then homogenized with a Polytron homogenizer for 2×10 sec at setting #7, and centrifuged for 20 minutes at 49,000× g. The pellet fraction was washed (resuspended in Tris-HCl, pH 8 buffer and centrifuged for 15-20 minutes at 49,000× g) 2 times and stored at -100° until binding assay.

Binding Studies: The radioligands [³ H]rauwolscine (specific activity 80 Ci/mmol) and [³ H]prazosin (specific activity 76 Ci/mmol) were obtained from New England Nuclear, Boston, Mass. Frozen membrane pellet was resuspended in 25 mM glycine/glycine, pH 7.5 and incubated with radioligand under the following conditions: CHO-C10, CHO-RNG, CHO-C4-[³ H]rauwolscine, 22° C., 30 minutes; RKC-[³ H]rauwolscine, 0° C., 120 minutes; and, HCC-[³ H]prazosin, 22° C., 30 minutes in a final volume of 500 ul. At the end of the incubation period, the samples were filtered through glass filters (Whatman GF/B) in a 96 well cell harvester and rapidly washed four times with 4 mL of iced-cold 50 mM Tris-HCl buffer. The filters were then oven dried and transferred to scintillation vials containing 10 mL of Beckman's Ready Protein® scintillation cocktail for counting. Specific binding defined by 10 uM phentolamine for in competition studies were as follows: 2.4 nM [³ H]brimonidine-RbICB 62%; 2.4 nM [³ H]rauwolscine-RbICB 75%; 2 nM [³ H]rauwolscine-RbKc 88%; 0.3 nM [³ H] rauwolscine-CHO-C10 99%; 0.4 nM [³ H]rauwolscine-CHO-RNG 99%, 0.3 NM [³ H]prazosin 87%; and 1 nM [³ H]rauwolscine-CHO-C4 90%. Protein concentrations were determined with a protein assay kit from Bio Rad. Binding isotherms, equilibrium dissociation and affinity constants were analyzed and determined by the non-linear least squares curve fitting programs EBDA (BioSoft) or AccuFit Competition/Saturation by Beckman.

EXAMPLE 26

Cell Preparation: Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing the human α_(2A) (CHO-C10) and the rate α_(2B) (CHO-RNG) human α_(2A) adrenoceptors were grown to near confluence in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum using standard cell culture methods. Cells were harvested by scraping and placed into cold buffer of the following composition: 50 mM Tris-HCl, 5 mM EDTA, pH 7.4). Cells were then homogenized with a Polytyron homogenizer for 2×10 sec at setting #7, and centrifuged for 20 minutes at 49,000× g. The pellet fraction was washed (resuspended in Tris-HCl, pH 8 buffer and centrifuged for 15-20 minutes at 49,000× g) 2 times and stored at 100° C. until binding assay.

Binding studies: Determination of Ki

The radioligands [³ H] rauwolscine (specific activity 80 Ci/mmol) and [³ H] prazosin (specific activity 76 Ci/mmol) were obtained from New England Nuclear, Boston, Mass. Frozen membrane pellet was resuspended in 25 mM glycine/glycine, pH 7.4 and incubated with radioligand under the following conditions: CHO-C10, CHO-RNG, CHO-C4-[³ H]rauwolscine, 22° C., 30 min.; and, HCC-[³ H]prazowsin, 22° C., 30 minutes in a final volume of 500 ul. At the end of the incubation period, the samples were filtered through glass fiber filters (Whatman GF/B) in a 96 well cell harvester and rapidly washed four times which 4 mL of iced-cold 50 mM Tris-CHI buffer. The filters were then oven dried and transferred to scintillation vials containing 5 mL of Beckman's Ready Protein® scintillation cocktail for counting. Specific binding defined by 10 uM phentolamine for competition studies were as follows: 0.3 nM[³ H]rauwolscine-CHO-C10 99%; 0.4 nM[³ H]rauwolscine-CHO-RNG 99%, and 0.3 nM [³ H]prazosin-HCC 87%. Protein concentrations were determined with a protein assay kit from Bio lad. Binding isotherms, equilibrium dissociation and affinity constants were analyzed and determined by the non-linear least squares curve fitting programs AccuFit Competition/Saturation by Beckman.

Preparation of Bovine ventrolateral medulla (BVLM) membranes

EXAMPLE 27

Fresh bovine brain stems were obtained from a local slaughter house. After removal of pia-arachnoid, the medulla was isolated by dissecting the brain stem about 1 cm posterior and 1 cm caudal to the obex. The ventral quadrants of the medulla excluding the pyramids were used as the VLM. For each preparation, 30 to 40 VLM were used. Initial homogenization was performed in 20 volumes of 5 mM HEPES buffer (pH 7.4 at 4° C.) containing 250 mM sucrose, 50 uM Calpain I inhibitor (Boehginer Mannheim, Indianapolis, Ind.), 100 uM 1,10-phenanthroline (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.) and 50 uM Pefabloc (Boehginer Mannheim, Indianapolis, Ind.), using Virtis homogenizer at setting 7 with three 10 second pulses, followed by three passes in a teflon-glass tissue homogenizer. The inhibitors were added to prevent degradation by proteases and peptidases. The homogenates were then centrifuged at 1000× g for 10 min and the resulting pellets were re-homogenized and centrifuged. Supernatants resulted from both runs were combined and centrifuged for 20 min at 48000× g. The pellets obtained were resuspended in a teflon-glass homogenizer in 50 mM Tris-HCl with 5 mM EDTA (pH 7.7 at 4° C.), centrifuged, and resuspended in 50 mM Tris-HCl with 25 mM NaCl, pH 7.7 at room temp. To remove endogenous ligands, the homogenate was incubated 30 min at room temp before it was centrifuged for 20 min at 48000× g. The pellets were then washed with 50 mM Tris-HCl buffer, (pH 7.4 at 4° C.) and loaded on top of 5 mM HEPES/0.85 M sucrose (pH 7.4 at 4° C.). Pellets obtained after centrifugation at 48000× g for 20 min were saved. The fatty connective tissue on the top layer was discarded. The partially purified VLM membrane pellets were then washed twice with 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.7 at 4° C., flash frozen in dry ice/acetone slush, and stored at -100° C. until use. Receptor binding experiments were performed within days after the membrane preparation.

I₁ imidazoline receptor binding assay

EXAMPLE 28

I₁ imidazoline receptor binding affinity was determined from radioligand binding of ³ H-clonidine (NEN, Boston, Mass.) to bovine VLM membranes. Specific activity of ³ H-clonidine was 43 Ci/mmol. Kd of ³ H-clonidine binding to the I₁ imidazoline receptor was determined by saturation experiments and Ki of other ligands studied were determined by competition experiments. The radioligand binding assay was performed in Teflon 96-wells with the Biomek-1000 robotics (Beckman Instruments, Fullerton, Calif.). Each well contained 4 mN ³ H-Clonidine and 0.3 to 0.5 mg of bovine VLM protein in 5 mM HEPES buffer containing 0.5 mM EGTA and 0.5 mM MgCl₂, pH 7.4 (0.1 mM ascorbic acid was added just before the protein). After 50 min of incubation at 25° C., the reaction was terminated by rapid filtration over Whatman GF/B filters treated with 0.1% polyethyleneimine and washed with 12 ml ice cold 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4 at 4° C. in a Brandel Harvester (Brandel, Gaithersburg, Md.). Both `hot` and `cold` saturation experiments were performed. In `hot` saturation experiments, studies were performed with ³ H-clonidine ranging from 0.1 to 50 nM. In `cold` saturation experiments, studies were performed with 2 nM ³ H-clonidine with 20 different concentrations of the unlabeled clonidine, ranging from 0.1 nM to 1 uM unlabeled clonidine. Non specific binding was defined by parallel incubations containing 10⁻⁵ M phentolamine or naphazoline. Imidazoline binding was determined by parallel incubations in which the alpha-adrenergic sites were masked with 10⁻⁵ M norepinephrine. During competition experiments, ligands of 20 concentrations ranged from 10⁻¹¹ to 10⁻⁴ were used. Radioactivity was counted in a Beckman LS-3801 scintillation counter. Data were captured and analyzed with Accufit saturation and competition softwares modeled both for one-site and two-site fits (Beckman Instruments, Fullerton, Calif.) using an IBM compatible computer. All experiments were repeated at least twice.

Representative compounds of the present invention were tested according to the procedures given above. Results of these tests are tabulated in Table 1 above as specific examples. The receptor binding studies and K₁ are measures of the affinity of a compound for a particular receptor.

EXAMPLE 29

The compound of Example 16 was compared to clonidine for lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) by topical administration of a single drop of 0.001% of the compound in an ophthalmically acceptable vehicle to one eye of a rabbit. The untreated eye was used as the control. The results are reported in FIG. 1. As shown, clonidine shows a systemic effect, in that the IOP of the untreated eye is lowered to the same extent as the treated eye. In contrast, the eye treated with the compound of Example 16 showed a greater effect in lowering IOP than clonidine without lowering IOP in the untreated eye.

EXAMPLE 30

The compound of Example 16 and clonidine were tested for systemic effect by injecting 10 ug/kg of each compound into a rabbit. In comparison to a saline control, the clonidine lowered the mean arterial blood pressure, substantially, while the compound of Example 16 did not effectively lower the mean arterial blood pressure. These results are reported in FIG. 2.

While the invention has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments and specific examples, they are not intended as limiting the scope of the present invention which should be determined solely on the basis of the appended claims, as such claims are read in light of the disclosure. 

We claim:
 1. A method of treating elevated intraocular pressure in a mammal comprising administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the formula II ##STR38## wherein R1 is H or alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, one X is NH and the other X is O or NH and A is H or an oxo group and wherein said compound does not cause a concomitant reduction in blood pressure of said mammal.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the compound of formula II has the structure ##STR39## wherein R₁ represents methyl or bromine and A is hydrogen or an oxo group.
 3. A method of treating nasal congestion in a mammal comprising administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the formula II ##STR40## wherein R1 is H or alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, one X is NH and the other X is O or NH and A is H or an oxo group and wherein said compound does not cause a concomitant reduction in blood pressure of said mammal.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the compound of formula II has the structure ##STR41## wherein R₁ represents methyl or bromine and A is hydrogen or an oxo group.
 5. The method of claim 3 wherein the compound of formula II has the structure ##STR42##
 6. A method of treating diarrhea in a mammal comprising administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the formula II wherein R1 is H or alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, one X is NH and the other X is O or NH and A is H or an oxo group and wherein said compound does not cause a concomitant reduction in blood pressure of said mammal.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the compound of formula II has the structure ##STR43## wherein R₁ represents methyl or bromine and A is hydrogen or an oxo group. 